The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-25
A woman GuilIOtined .

A woman has been guillotined in
France for the first time In fifteen
years. The circumstances attending
the execution were horribly revolving,
as were also the circumstances attend
ing he crime. The woman had muir.
dered her old mother, whom she con-
sidered q burden on her. She took
every precaUtion to insure the success
OF the murder. She fret saturated the
old woman's clothing With oil, then
set fire to her and heldEher down with
long stick while the decrepit old
creature was roasting to death. The
old woman cried piteously for mercy,
but the heartless daughter held her
down till she was burned to a crisp.
Aud then, TO crown murder with
blasphemy, che placed a lighted
candle before the statue
of the Virgin, ss an act Of thsnksRiy'
ing, for the successful issue OF the
murder of her mother. The inhabit-
ants Of the town, Rsmortin, in which
the crime took place, were thrown
into state of unspeakable excite.
ment. The authorities had much
difficulty to prevent people from mob
bipg the prison and lynching the pris.
oner. A speedy trial-and trials in
France are always speedy-salisfied
the populate. The woman was
promptly condemned to death. The
French, as is known, are repugnant to
the death sentence, and French juIies
come in fer much Iidicule, apropos oil
"extenuating circums' ances." But in
this case the trial was over before other
trials would have been begun. Filial
love in France is one OF the strongest
characteristics of the peasantry, and
anyone who abuses parent Is relent.
lessiy tabooed from society. In the
present instance the repugnance OF the
people in regard to the execution of q
woman Wss overcome by the atrocity
of the crime, and President Grevy,
who is opposed to capital punishment
on principle, and who eends nine out
of ten murderers to New Caledonis
instead of to M. Deibler's machine,
signed the death warrant without
question. When the arrival Of M.
Deibler became known to the people
OF thu town the evening before the
execution there was general rejoicing.
The people remained up all night to
witness the execution in the morning.
Most Of them were on the ground out
side the prison as early as midnight.
When, about s o'clock in the morning,
the tumbril, or cart, appeared bearing
the muIderess to the place Of execu-
ton, the assembled multitude sent mp
O joyous shout. The distance
from the jail to the place
of execution was long, bat the entire
populace of the town followed
the death eorteee. All along the
way the people hooted and jeered,
the women especially, and pressed at
times 90 thTeateningly around the
vehicle that the gendalmes had to
draw their weapons. On arriving at
the fatal spot dead silence fell on the
multitude. The woman was ordered
to descend from the vehicle, but she
did not respond to the summons. She
had tainted. The officers removed her
and carried her to the guillotine, W hich
was grimly standing in the morning
light. On her way she recovered her
ssnses and screened and resisted. She
was promptly placed on the fatal in
strument, with her head thrust
through the basoule. Her screams
were drowned by the shouts Of the
assembled people, They rushed